SUNDAY IN NORTHERN NORMANDY

We didn't do much on Sunday morning but just relax.  We decided to do a little laundry but our wash machine was a challenge so we needed help.  After getting instructions we threw some laundry in the machine and headed to a presentation to inform us of all the things we can do while staying here.  As Mark, the presenter, pointed out a number of times "We are not in the middle of nowhere".  And so we weren't.  We discovered a lot of little places we could drive to during our week stay.  

Sharon and Sandra eagerly awaitingthe presentation.  

Handouts included a map with a color key guide and a sheet explaining all the places to go.  Mark had a power point presentation and an easel.  After showing us the site he would then run to the easel and put the hwy numbers down and the area code so one could key it in the GPS.  All the time he assured us we were not in the middle of nowhere.  

After the presentation we decided a little drive to Lyons-La-Foret would be nice.  It was a beautiful day to be out.    We didn't have anything to eat in the apartment so we also thought we'd  look for a little place to eat.  Well,  let me tell you, not much open on Sunday.  We were pretty starved but as we were driving along one of the little roads I noticed a sign for Restaurant and it looked like it was open.  Sharon did a quick turn and sure enough there were people inside.

We had a lovely little Sunday lunch there along with a couple of other tables of "little old ladie" :-).

We arrived in Lyon-la- Foret and immediately saw the church on the hill. "40 kilometres east of Rouen, in one of Europe’s finest beech groves, the aptly named Lyons-la-Forêt (the Forest) stretches out its facades decked with half-timbering, colourful daub and bricks along the River Lieure. Shops busily ply their trade around the 18C covered market where other jewels of local architecture such as the Vieux Logis or former bailiwick that has since become the town hall can also be seen."

                                                    

                                                 

                                               

An antique shop covered with beutiful red vines.

Some interesting asides about the people who lived or died in the village.  

Henry I of England died on 1 December 1135 of food poisoning from eating "a surfeit of lampreys" (of which he was excessively fond) at Lyons-la-Forêt (then Saint-Denis-en-Lyons). 

Lyons-la-Forêt was the birthplace of Enguerrand de Marigny (1260–1315), chamberlain and minister of Philip IV the Fair.

It was also the birthplace of Isaac de Benserade, French poet (1612–1691), who was one of the first intellectuals in France to evoke female homosexuality in a theater play.

Maurice Ravel wrote music in Le Fresne, one of the old mansions of Lyons-la-Forêt, where he came for many years. ^[4]

We drove down to the City center and found a parking spot and walked around and enjoyed a cup of coffee outside.

Look at that good parking job.  Yeah Sharon!  

Interesting old building.

And a stop for coffee and/or wine.

On our way home we stopped at the grocery store and bought makings for dinner.  We enjoyed a home cooked meal.  Nice to be home and relax without having to drive on these roads at  night.